Sonics release drawings of proposed arena

Published 10:00 pm, Sunday, February 25, 2007

Architectural drawings released by the Sonics on Monday show the exterior of the arena the team has planned for a proposed site in Renton.

Architectural drawings released by the Sonics on Monday show the exterior of the arena the team has planned for a proposed site in Renton.

Photo: / Seattle Sonics

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The building, which would seat 20,000 spectators and would be nearly twice the size of KeyArena, was designed by HOK Sport. The firm also designed Denver's Pepsi Center and Atlanta's Philips Arena, two multi-purpose arenas housing NBA and NHL franchises. less

The building, which would seat 20,000 spectators and would be nearly twice the size of KeyArena, was designed by HOK Sport. The firm also designed Denver's Pepsi Center and Atlanta's Philips Arena, two ... more

Photo: / Seattle Sonics

Sonics release drawings of proposed arena

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After months of blind conjecture, Clay Bennett and his partners put a visual face on their new arena concept Monday with the release of architectural drawings of the proposed Sonics' facility.

The public -- as well as lawmakers -- can now picture the 20,000-seat building Bennett has planned for the Renton site that was announced two weeks earlier.

As expected, the $500-million project would be a rather glamorous addition to the current Boeing property at the south end of Lake Washington.

Large glass exteriors and open walkways would greet visitors to a massive structure nearly double the size of KeyArena.

Bennett unveiled the drawings in Olympia on Monday night, while meeting with members of the House Finance Committee. Jim Kneeland, a spokesman for Bennett, said this step is important in letting people know the size and scope of the proposed arena.

"We think it's critical," Kneeland said. "It gives people a sense of the magnitude of the project. Compared to KeyArena, it's a much larger and more-flexible venue."

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The proposed facility will be about 730,000 square feet, according to Kneeland. KeyArena stands at 400,000 square feet. That figure does not include parking structures also planned for the Renton project.

"It will have bold concourses and more room for people and events before entering the (arena) bowl," Kneeland said.

Picture a facility with not only increased restroom and food vending areas, but restaurants and perhaps a nightclub, along with office and practice space for the Sonics and other tenants.

"We want a venue where people want to spend more time, not just come five minutes before the game and leave five minutes before it's over," said Kneeland. "We want to create a place where people want to linger."

Only exterior views were released Monday. Kneeland said interior design is underway and views of those aspects could be expected within the next month.HOK Sport has designed numerous sports facilities around the country, including Denver's Pepsi Center and Atlanta' Philips Arena, two multi-purpose arenas housing NBA and NHL franchises.

Both the Denver and Atlanta arenas were completed in 1999. The Pepsi Center seats 19,000 for basketball and was built for $160 million. It has since hosted the 2001 NHL All-Star Game, the 2005 NBA All-Star Game and will be home to the 2008 Democratic National Convention.

Philips Arena seats just over 20,000 for basketball and cost $213.5 million. HOK went with a unique design on that Atlanta facility, putting all the luxury and club seating on one side of the court. Kneeland said that sort of arrangement isn't being considered by Bennett.

Atlanta hosted the 2003 NBA All-Star game and will put on the NHL All-Star Game in 2008.

Bennett has stressed that the proposed arena in Renton would be a similar multi-purpose facility capable of housing NBA, NHL and various entertainment events.

First, however, comes the challenge of convincing state and county officials to help fund the project. Bennett is stressing that the proposed Senate Bill 5986 would only extend current taxes that are paying off debts on Safeco Field, Qwest Field and the Kingdome.

Kneeland said the momentum of naming a site and coming out with a conceptual design now needs to carry over to public understanding of that issue.

"We need people to get a better understanding of the financial element, that this can happen without any tax increase," he said. "And also that a truly multi-use facility like this building can be a tax-revenue generator through events and business conventions that KeyArena wasn't designed to host."